Recent regulatory changes have fundamentally shifted the conventional building design and delivery paradigm in Massachusetts. The 2023 Stretch Energy Code and the Specialized Opt-In Code prioritize reductions in operational carbon emissions, requiring a comprehensive restructuring of architectural design, project delivery, and construction strategies.
Amid these regulatory changes, a national housing shortage, and mounting pressure to shorten drawn-out construction schedules, this paper examines the 2,699-unit Bunker Hill Housing redevelopment in Charlestown, Massachusetts. It presents a systematized kit-of-parts solution that combines cross-laminated timber floors, a precast concrete core, and panelized exterior walls. This solution delivers Phius-certified Passive House buildings while reducing construction duration by 32% to 41% compared to regional benchmarks.
This paper was presented at the 2026 ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings.